Radioactive waste management:
IRSN serving risk prevention
IRSN FACT SHEETS

A national regulatory
framework now areference for theEuropean framework
In France, the managementof radioactive materials andwaste was governed by threesuccessive laws:▪ Law no. 91-1381 ofDecember 30, 1991 on
research into themanagement ofradioactive waste (BatailleLaw). It provided a legal
framework for the creationof underground researchlaboratories for deep
geological disposal andconferred on Andra thestatus of public institutionof an industrial andcommercial nature (EPIC)
independent from waste
producers;▪ French Program Law no.
2006–739 of June 28,
2006 on the sustainable
management ofradioactive materials andwaste. It established thedevelopment of the Frenchnational radioactivematerials and waste
management plan(PNGMDR) and set atimetable for research on
high-level andintermediate-level longlived waste;▪ French Law no. 2016–
1015 of July 25, 2016
specifying the terms ofcreation of a reversible
deep geological repository
for high-level andintermediate-level longlived waste has set theconditions for thereversibility of deep
geological repositories.
ContactEmmanuelle Mur
Tel. +33(0)1 58 35 96 71
Registered office31, av. de la Division Leclerc
92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses

September 2021

www.irsn.fr

Radioactive waste: very different
radiological and physicochemical
characteristics
Substances containing natural or artificial
radionuclides the activity or concentration ofwhich justifies radiation protection control andfor which no further use is planned or envisaged,
radioactive waste is classified in different
categories (source: Andra/2020 National
Inventory of Radioactive Materials and Waste).

IRSN’s role in the safe management ofradioactive waste
IRSN's assessments focus on the characterizationof waste and its packaging, in particular withregard to the suitability of the waste packages
produced according to the specifications of thedisposal facilities likely to receive them, as well as
the conditions for storing these packages andtransporting them to disposal facilities.

The acceptability of this waste at disposal facilities that exist or are in the planning stage is examined from a safety
perspective, both as regards the service lives of these facilities and their capacity to contain radioactivity in the long term.
Issues relating, in particular, to the risks of fire and explosion in operation as well as those linked, in the long term, to themobility of radionuclides in the geosphere form the basis of the Institute’s expertise on radioactive waste management.

Research in support of assessments
As a public expert in nuclear and radiological risks, IRSN defines and implements research programs intended to develop
the knowledge and skills necessary for credible and independent technical assessments.
With that in mind, IRSN focuses its efforts on the following areas:▪ tests and methodological developments intended to provide an opinion on the quality of the data acquired byoperators;▪ experimental research and modeling to understand fundamental mechanisms that could impact safety;▪ tests aimed at exploring the technical difficulties of implementing various safety barriers – such as seals intended forpermanent closure of a disposal facility or the containment systems for waste packages – in order to assess theireffectiveness;▪ development of a simulation capacity for disposal behavior.

IRSN is a French Stateowned industrial andcommercial establishment(EPIC) the missions, status,and operation of which aredetermined by Articles L59245 to L592-49 and R592-39
to R592-61 of the French
Environment Code. IRSN isunder the joint supervision ofthe French Minister for theEnvironment, the French theMinister of Defense, and theFrench Ministers of Energy,
Research, and Health.
As a public expert, IRSN
advances scientificknowledge to manage all
nuclear and radiation risks.
Through its research,methods, and interactions
with all stakeholders, IRSN
assesses these risks andtheir consequences
independently. It thus
contributes to theirprevention, detection, andthe limitation of their
possible effects, in order toprotect the population andthe environment.

IRSN continues its research into the safety of deep geological repositories using its underground research laboratory inTournemire (southern France). Due to its geological configuration and the nature of the rocks, this experimental site has
broad similarities to that studied by Andra in Bure (northeast France).
At Fontenay-aux-Roses (near Paris), IRSN also runs a laboratory called LUTECE, dedicated to characterizing samples(mass spectrometry, gamma spectrometry, imaging, mechanical tests, etc.) as part of its research programs on thesafety of deep disposal of radioactive waste and on the transfer of pollutants into surface soils in the environment ofmining and polluted sites.

Assessment and research conducted in dialog with civil society
As part of its initiative to open up to society, since 2012, IRSN has set up continuous technical exchanges on the disposalof high-level and intermediate-level long-lived waste (see box below) in cooperation with the National Association ofLocal Information Committees and Commissions (ANCCLI) and the Bure Local Information and Monitoring Committee(CLIS). They enrich the Institute’s assessments by integrating the views of civil society and its questions. In addition,
IRSN is pursuing an approach aimed at associating society with the development of radioactive waste research
programs.
IRSN also participates in public debates and consultations on the Cigéo project and the French national radioactive
materials and waste management plan (PNGMDR) (see box below). The aim is to provide information from its
assessments and research to enable the population to form its own opinion and, ultimately, to inform public decisionmaking.
IRSN is also involved in pluralist working groups on radioactive waste management issues. Since their creation, theInstitute has participated in the monitoring group for studies carried out under the PNGMDR as well as in the plan'ssteering committee. In 2020, it also participated in a working group of the High Committee for Transparency andInformation on Nuclear Security (HCTISN) which issued recommendations on public information and participation
regarding ANDRA's recent consultation on the Cigéo project.

The example of technical exchanges on thedisposal of high-level and intermediate-levellong-lived waste

The example of the public debate on thefifth PNGMDR held from April to September
2019

Organization of seminars on management
solutions, disposal reversibility, risks inoperation, transportation of waste
packages, Cigéo safety options, andhealth effects.

Multiple contributions from IRSN specificallyregarding radioactive waste:

Experimenting with innovative dialog
approaches to include civil society’sconcerns and questions during the review
of Cigéo project’s safety options:▪ creation of a pluralist discussion group,▪ design of new methods of interaction
with civil society for investigating future
projects with major social implications.
Currently, the discussion group's work isongoing with a view to reviewing thefuture request for authorisation to build
the Cigéo deep geological repository.

Submission of a report summarizing
research carried out on alternatives to thegeological disposal of high-level andintermediate-level long-lived waste.
Participation in public meetings, topicalmeetings, a workshop for young people
bringing together students to think about
the management of radioactive waste
using serious game participation tools, theprocess of clarifying technicalcontroversies, etc.
Online posting of topical and didactic
sheets, articles, podcasts, etc.

Some key figures

Some key figures

9 years of technical exchange
7 seminars (cumulative participation: 700people)
7 discussion group meetings

6 months of support
1 IRSN report
23 public events